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Bargoed man handed jail term for poisoning neighbours’ cats

10 Aug 2022 3 minute read
family handout photo of Luna the cat.

A man has been handed a jail term after admitting to poisoning his neighbours’ cats.

Tristian Paul Pearson, 44, of West Street, Bargoed, was given an eight-month suspended sentence for targeting family pets – Luna and Bailey – and purposefully luring them into consuming the toxic substance ethylene glycol.

Luna and Bailey died shortly after the poisonings took place in early September 2021, when within a week of each other they returned home appearing very unwell.

Both cats seemed weak and wobbly on their legs, with male Persian Bailey dying before he could be seen by a vet.

Undated family handout photo of Bailey the cat.

Luna, who was later found to have kidney failure, had to be put to sleep by a vet to prevent her ongoing suffering.

At a hearing on Friday, Cardiff Crown Court heard how following their deaths the cats’ devastated owners, a father and daughter who lived in two separate houses near Pearson’s home, began searching their neighbours’ gardens.

When they looked into the rear garden of Pearson’s property they spotted two pots, one which contained a bright blue liquid and another that appeared to have tuna in it.

The pots were passed to the RSPCA and both were found to have a high concentration of ethylene glycol, a highly toxic substance for cats.

An expert veterinary witness report concluded it was “very highly likely that this [the pots] was the source of ethylene glycol that caused the death of” Luna and Bailey.

Dehydration

And a vet statement added that the “effects of ethylene glycol poisoning cause a cat to suffer via the mechanism of dehydration with subsequent headaches, nausea, disorientation, weakness and collapse”.

Pearson pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals and his eight-month prison sentence was suspended for 18 months.

He was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work, and disqualified from keeping all animals for a period of five years; a ban which he may not contest for at least four years.

He was also ordered to pay £2,000 in costs.

Undated family handout photo of tubs containing the poison. Photo RSPCA

RSPCA inspector Simon Evans, who investigated the case, said: “These poor cats were deliberately tempted into digesting a substance that is incredibly dangerous for cats and ultimately proved fatal to them both.

“The two dishes found in the defendant’s garden contained a high concentration of the dangerous substance – and he admitted in court that he caused them to consume it, causing them to suffer unnecessarily.

“We hope this shocking, landmark case sends a clear message to anyone thinking of targeting cats in this way – this is wrong, illegal and will not be tolerated.”

First case

The RSPCA believe it is the first case to be referred to a Crown Court following the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 coming into force last year.

The Act increased the maximum sentence that could be imposed on offenders from six months to five years.

Mr Evans added: “This case reminds us that pet poisonings do happen.

“Anyone fearing their cat may have been poisoned should try and remain calm, move the cat away from the source and contact a vet straight away.”


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hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago

Not a big lover of cats but there is something inherently evil about people who set out to poison other people’s pets. Perhaps this monster should try some of his own poison and end his miserable life.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
2 years ago

Suspended sentence? Why isnt this vermin behind bars where he belongs? He’s got no more than a slap on the wrists for inflicting an excruciatingly painful death on two defenceless animals. Furthermore as a poisoner hes unquestionably a danger to people as well as animals in the future. Wonder if there’s scope to refer this pathetic sentence to the attorney general for being to lenient and looked at again?

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
2 years ago

Why did the owners allow the cats to roam over other peoples property, ruing theur gardens & decimating the local wildlife??

These cats are a menace & shouldnt be allowed out side the onwers property.

Anyoneone who loves wildlife should leave a cat roam free.

Vermin.

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
2 years ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

** should NEVER leave a cat roam free……that should have said!

One of the two witnesses
One of the two witnesses
2 years ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

Cats are free roaming creatures. It is cruel to prevent their natural behaviour.
Admittedly this includes the wholesale slaughter of wildlife.
They are NOT vermin. No animal is vermin. But people are stupid for keeping a free roaming hunter as a pet because they destabilise the ecosystem.
People moaning about their gardens need to get a grip. Town cats have overlapping territories and my garden is included in the patrol of about three different ones. Worst since have had to do is clean up the odd poo.

Last edited 2 years ago by One of the two witnesses
Glen
Glen
2 years ago

Not very nice if you have small children or are trying to grow veg.
Cats owners should be subject to the same laws as dog owners.

One of the two witnesses
One of the two witnesses
2 years ago
Reply to  Glen

I have had small children AND grown veg AND had cats have territory that included our garden. Kids grew up healthy. Veg was delicious. Just had to clean up the occasional poo. Not really a big deal. Worst thing was when I had to euthanise a bird that a local cat had savaged. Never want to do that again, but on the whole, the odd cat crapp is not a big deal like some people try to make out

One of the two witnesses
One of the two witnesses
2 years ago

I’m interested in who downvotes my completely factual comment. Cat haters or cat lovers?

Dafydd
Dafydd
2 years ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

…. so that makes it ok to inflict an agonising death on them? Cat’s hunt out of natural instinct. Humans poisoning other people’s pets and people who believe its ok to do such things – that’s evil. .

Last edited 2 years ago by Dafydd
Glen
Glen
2 years ago
Reply to  Dafydd

But there is nothing natural about domesticated cats, your cute, little fluffy moggie lying beside the fire becomes a ruthless killing machine once allowed outside,

One of the two witnesses
One of the two witnesses
2 years ago
Reply to  Glen

Ever heard of lions, tigers, leopards, ocelots etc? Felines are hunters and murderers. Nothing more natural than that

Glen
Glen
2 years ago

Domestic cats are not natural, wild cats are.

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago
Reply to  Glen

And your point is? Does that justify poisoning them? Remember that poison can also harm other wildlife, such as birds and hedgehogs!

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

I get your point, but that doesn’t justify his actions. The poison could also harm other wildlife.

Glen
Glen
2 years ago

Strange how many self proclaimed ‘animal lovers’ keep these furry killing machines that destroy on average 40 reptiles, 38 birds and 32 small mammals a year per moggie, which works out as a staggering 270,000,000 animals killed by cats annually.
If you really cared about wildlife you would never own a domestic cat.

One of the two witnesses
One of the two witnesses
2 years ago
Reply to  Glen

Pick a lane Glen. Are you a passionate naturalist or just worried about poo in your garden? You’re flip flopping like a Tory PM

Glen
Glen
2 years ago

Both!
I have neighbour’s cats crap in my veg garden and on lawns, grab fish from my pond and leave them flapping to die on the grass, kill frogs that come to the pond to spawn and savage loads of the easily caught fledglings that visit my bird feeders.

Domestic cats truly are vermin.

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago

What on earth is wrong with these people??

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